Saints have been shorn of a string of stars this summer, with Luke Shaw leaving for Manchester United and Adam Lallana following Rickie Lambert to Liverpool.

Pochettino sparked the exodus by swapping St Mary's for White Hart Lane but refused to be drawn on whether France midfielder Schneiderlin could soon be joining him in north London.

Speaking - in English (he only spoke in Spanish while he was Southampton boss) - after his side ended their pre-season tour of the US with a 2-0 win over Chicago Fire, Pochettino said: "We're trying to improve the squad but I never speak about players from other clubs.

"I have respect. I'm just focused on my team."

Goals from Harry Kane and Aaron Lennon ensured Spurs ended their tour on a high, having beaten Toronto FC before drawing with the Seattle Sounders, and goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes foundations have been laid for a successful season.

"The (tour) was a success and on the training pitch it was a big success," Friedel said.

"We trained twice a day most days; he's a very demanding manager but also very enjoyable (to work with).

"The style of play changes whenever a manager changes. I think you'll see a lot of pressing, a lot of attacking football, I think you'll see us try to play from ther back. You've seen a glimpse here of what we'll try to do."

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t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.